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L. E. SALISBURY. STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

Nb. 601,307. PatentedMar. 29,1898;

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. L 4 Sheefs-Sheet 3. ,.L.'E. SALISBURY. STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 601,307. Patented'Mar. 29, 1898.

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, (No Model.) 4 sheets-sheet 4.

' I L. ESALISBRY.

STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

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w, z w 7 E @a w M T ,0 m V m m e P -UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.l

LEVI E. SALIS'BURYfOF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGN OR TO JOHN MILLAR, OF SAME'PLACE.-

STRAIGHT-KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,307, dated March 29, 1898.

Application filed April 22, 1897.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEVI E. SALISBURY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State v My invention relates`to straight-knittingv machines or to knitting-looms, as they are sometimes called; and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

The present invention is an improvement in the knitting-machine patented to me July `7, 1891, No. 455,464, and November 6, 1894, No. 528,810. In the said patented machines the fabric produced thereon is composed of a series of warp threads, a series of lupper knitting-threads interlocking with each other and with the said Warp-threads, and a series of lower filling-threads alternating with the upper threads and laid continuously in a' straight manner along one sidel of the warp'- threads. In the said patented machines -the several knitting threads and their guides were carried by a continuously-traveling upper chain, While the lower filling-threads and their guides were carried by a similarly-traveling lower chain, the latter also carrying 'cams adapted to successively engage and actuate the warp-guides in an endwise manner. While such formerconstruction was capable of being operated smoothly at a comparatively quick rate of speed, it has been found desirable to even further increaseit, thereby correspondingly increasing the percentage of output or product.

The object Il have in view in thepresent invention is to so constructy the machine that it can be successfully driven at a faster rate` Serial No. 633,390. (No model.)

cessible for inspection, adjustment, &c., and the guides for the several series of threads are adapted to travel more uniformly.

i In my present invention, too, the cams and needle-carrying frames or jacks are arranged so as to actuate the connected vseries or groups of needles in a practically positive manner, thereby avoiding'the liability of a possible temporary non-action of the needles in case the friction upon the needle-holders exceeds the normal degree.

In the accompanying four sheets of drawings, Figure 1 is a general side elevation of my improved straight-knitting machine,so1ne of the minor details being omitted. Fig. 2 is a corresponding transverse section enlarged. Fig. 3 is a partial plan view of the lower bed or table, showing the manner of actuating the chain which carries the series of bobbins Athereto being indicated by dotted lines. Fig.

6 is a transverse section, enlarged, taken :through the upper and lower intermediate chains and the corresponding tracks or holders. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a section of the Aupper and lower chains which carry the two series of said yarn or thread holding bobbins.

Fig.A 8 is a plan view of one of the links of vthe Vupper intermediate chain. Fig. 9 is a plan view of one of the links of the lower intermediate chain, and also showing the cam for actuating the warp-guides. Fig. 10 is a side View of the same. Fig. 1l is an `inverted plan view of it. Fig. 12 is a partial transverse section, enlarged, of the needle-driving shaft, cam-box, dac., on line o o of Fig. 14. Fig. 13 is a partial sectiontaken on line y y of Fig. 6; and Fig. 14 is a section on line ma: of Fig. 12 through the needle-cams, jacks, &c., showing the relative arrangement of one group of needles.

In my present improved knitting-machine or knitting-loom each series of guides for the several threads is carried by an independent roo chain, the chains themselves being arranged in different horizontal -planes and driven at each end of the machine by suitable mechanism, thus insuring smoothness of operation.

In Fig. l of the drawings is shown the general arrangement of the driving mechanism and the means for operating the several thread and guide carrying chains. It will be seen, referring to said Fig. l, that the filling or weft threads z are wound on the lower series of spools or bobbins, which in turn are mounted on stands or holders secured to the links of the lower chain c. (See also Figs. 2, 3, the.) The upper knitting-threads h are similarly mounted and are carried by the links of the upper chain c. (See Figs. 2 and 4:.) Located immediately below and supported by the stationary upper bed b are arranged the two intermediate chain holders or tracks m m2, vertically separated from each other by the interposed brackets in. The chain c2, mounted in the upper immediate holder m', carries the top thread-guides e2, and the lower chain-holder m2 supports the corresponding chain c3, which in turn carries the cams which aetuate the warp-guides e and also carries the filling-thread guides e'. (See also Figs. G, the.) The several chains and `guides are properly set or adjusted with respect to each other and all travel in unison continuously at the same rate of speed.

In knitting the fabric it will be seen that there are two sets of needles a and also two complete sets of threads or yarn, the arrangement being such that two connected webs or widths of fabric are produced simultaneously. Each set of needles, guides, tbc., operate to introduce the threads at the upper edge of the corresponding needle bar or plate t, the

fabric produced passing downwardly through the narrow central opening a4, thence around the guide-roll r to and between the pair ofdriven friction-rolls r2 to the web beam or roll r3, on which the fabric is mechanically wound.

The following is a description of the manner of feeding or introducing the several threads to the action of the needles n. The warp-threads w pass from the warp-beam, thence to and between the corresponding pair of friction or tension rolls i, and upwardly over the stationary guide-rods 102, and from the latter to and through end holes formed in the longitudinally-reeiproeating warp-guides e, actuated by cams carried by the traveling chain c3. (See Figs. 2, G, and l2.) The filling or weft threads hare mounted on bobbins carried by the lower chain c. The free ends of the threads 7L unwind from the bobbins and extend through eyes formed in the outer ends of the corresponding guides e', secured to the under side of the said lower intermediate chain c3. The bobbins carrying the upper knitting-threads 7L are mounted on and actuated bya chain c in substantially the same manner as the lower bobbins. In this case, however, the ends of the threads 71, in unwinding extend downwardly through eyes formed in the guides e2, the latter being carried along in unison with the bobbins by means of the upper intermediate chain c2 and the corresponding guide brackets or holders e3.

The several chains above referred to travel at a rate of speed common to all, thus insuring that the corresponding traveling threads will be properly introduced successively to the several groups of needles. The following description relates to means for effecting such eoncurrentaction of the guides, the.

Referring to Fig. l, it will be seen that power is transmitted from the front horizontal driving-shaft s to the rear shaft s by the connecting-shaft s3 and its end gearing si. The two vertical shafts 32, located at the ends 0f the machine, revolve simultaneously in one direction by means of bevelgears, as shown. rIhe lower bobbin-carrying chain c is driven by the said shafts s2 through the two corresponding gear-trains g, similar trains g/ at the upper ends of the shafts being employed to propel the upper bobbin-carrying chains d. (See also Fig. 2.) At a point just below the upper bed b the shafts .s2 are each provided with a spur-gear g2 and corresponding train for simultaneously propelling the two intermediate chains c'2 and c3, these latter being shown in Figs. 2 and G.

I prefer to make the length of the links of the several sets of chains alike-for example, three inches from center to centerof the jointpins-the length of the chains themselves being alike. Fig. 3 shows a partial plan view of the lower bed b and its chain c, and Fig. 4f a similar view of the upper chain e'. The links of vthese two chains are alike. Fig. 7 shows a plan view of a section of the said chains c c in enlarged scale. IVhile, as just stated, the length of the links and chains c2 c3 are the same as in chains c c, the former are lighter and thinner, since they have less work to do. The upper one, c2, of these two chains is mounted to slide in the track or holder m', each link carrying a downwardly-bent bracket e, to which the guide c2 of the corresponding thread 7L is adjustably secured. (See Figs. 6 and 8.) The other or lower intermediate chain c3 travels in a track m2, suspended from the upper track by a series of short hangers fm. To the base of the latter is secured the stationar guide-plate f, which is grooved or tricked transversely throughout its length to freely receive the several warp-guides e. (See also Fig. 13.) In order to prevent theselastnamed guides from falling out, a plate f is dovetailed to the under side of the plate f. (See Fig. (i.) The plate f' also serves as a member of the track or chain-guide m2. I may add that in all the chains the round heads of the joint-pins travel in the longitudinal grooves of the tracks, thus keeping the chainlinks in position laterally. The chains c2 c3 are propelled by means of the said gears g2, the intermediate or idler gears g4, and the gears g5, the latter being secured to cach end IOO IIO

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the links.

601,307 f l s of a short vertical shaft g6 and intergearing with the teeth formed on the outer edge of Fig. shows the relative arrangement of the said driving mechanism. (See also Fig. l.)

The chai-n c3 ispro'vided on its upper side with a suitable cam-shaped groove 7e, Fig. 9,

adapted to receive the tongue orr projection` lo', Fig. 6, formed on theunder side of the warp-guides e. By means of this arrangement the traveling chain causes the guides to be successively reciprocated back and forth, thus introducingY the warp-threads w at the proper time to the front of the needles,the`

latter at the Sametime being dropped to their limit by the action of the needle-cams d',

- Fig. 12.

. the latter in traveling operates to successively maintain-two or three guides e in the outer- 'most position, said trumpet portion being located directly belowT the guides e and above the needle-plate t. The arrangement of the cam-grooves 7c of the chains c3 is such that the warp-guides are projectedoutward at 'the same instant that the revolving cams'd retract the corresponding needles. (See Fig. 14.) In the last-named figure is represented one of the groups or series of needles and the actuating mechanism, the distance occupied on the shaft d being, say, equal vto the length of a link.l The cams d are spirally arranged on and secured to the shaft, a round disk u being interposed between each pair of cams and supported in the bottom of the camboX a', to which latter the needle-plate t is secured. The needle frames-or jacks n are thinner than the cams, thus adapting them to move freely in a vertical direction. The

needle-frames are cut away on the lower side to permit the passage of the cam arm or projection d2 of the cam, the frame at the same time being supported by the upper edge of the 'cam d. It will be seen, referring to Fig. 12, that the cam portion d2 is so constructed that it is in continuous engagement with the projection n2, formed on the lower side'of the frame, during an angular movement of somesixty degrees, thus insuring that the needles cannot accidently rise while the warp-guides are projected.

In order to provide the needles with means whereby they may be easily and quickly removably secured to the frames fn', the needle-Shanks may be bent'to form a spring-arm adapted to interlock withl the corresponding part of the frame. (See dotted lines,l Fig. l2.) As thus made the lower portion of the needle is sprung into a socket, the eXtreme end n3 of the spring-arm projecting above the frame. the top of the'cam-box.

I claim as my invention- 'n.4 indicates a sheet-metal cover at i l. In a straight-knitting machine, provided with a dual set of warp, filling and knitting threads adapted to be interlocked to produce `a double web of fabric, the combination of four independent endless chains traveling in unison and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described, wherein one of said chains ries the knitting-thread bobbins, another carries a seriesof guides, as e2, adapted to present the said knitting-threads to the needles, and the Afourth chain carriesa series of fillingthread guides as e', and a corresponding series of cams, and guides e containing said warp-threads actuated by said cams.

2. In a straight-knitting machine, employing warp, filling and knitting threads, the combination of the endwise-movable guides e carrying the warp-threads, and the suitablymounted vertically-separated endless independent chains, 02, c3; the upper one c2 of said chains having guides carrying the knittingthreads, the other chain having guides carrying the filling-threads and also provided with 'cams for actuating the said warp-guides, the

said chains c2 c3 being employed for the purpose of carrying the series of knitting and filling thread guides, respectively, and being wholly independent of the chains or mechanism which carries the bobbins from which the said knitting and flllin g threads unwind, substantially as described.

. 3. kIn a straight-knitting machine, the combination with the duplex series of needles arranged in groups and mechanism for actuating the same, of the two endless independent traveling chains, as c2, c3, provided with guides for the knitting and filling threads, respectively, non-traveling guides e for the warpthreads, adapted to be reciprocated back and .carries'the filling-thread bobbins,l another carforth with respect to the needles, and by cams carried by said chain, c3, the said chains c2 c3 being employed for the purpose of carrying the series of knitting and filling thread guides, respectively, and being wholly independent of the chains or mechanism which carries the bobbins from which the said knitting and filling threads unwind, substantially as described.

4. In a straight-knitting machine, the combination with the positively-revolving needleactuating cam d having an arc-shaped peripheral extension d2, of the needle-carrying frame or jack n' cut away on its under side and provided at the bottom with the eXtension n2 arranged in the path of and adapted to be engaged by the cam member d2, substantially as-described and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEVI E. SAJIISBURY.l

Witnesses:

GEo. H. REMINGTON, REMINGTON SHERMAN.

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